The Central Register of Exclusion of Gaming (CRUKS) has registered over 20,000 users since its launch last year, according to the Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
Publishing the figures on its website, the KSA says the register has now been consulted more than 148 million times following the introduction of the safeguarding mechanism on October 1, 2021.
The self-ban excludes affected people from participating in games of chance of online providers, slot machine arcades and Holland Casino for a minimum period of six months.
CRUKS is part of the new KOA Gambling Act in the Netherlands which legalises online gambling but also ‘tightens the requirements’ in the field of addiction prevention.
Slot machine arcades, Holland Casino branches and online gambling providers are required to consult CRUKS before allowing a player to gamble. If someone is on the registry, access will be denied.
CRUKS also allows for partners, family members and close associates to register a player for “involuntary self-exclusion”.
For operators registering a player to CRUKS, self-exclusion will be immediate but must be accompanied by an ‘intervention file’ providing details on all customer care engagements.
The player will be self-excluded from all licensed operators (online and land-based) as KSA undertakes its review – which can be contested by the customer.
“It is necessary that an interested party, for example a partner, family member or gambling provider, submits a request to KSA. After a careful procedure, KSA will make a decision on self-exclusion,” KSA rules state.
